Maniolas

Philippine Daily Inquirer By: Amy R. Remo, December 18th, 2015 01:43 AM MEMBER states of the World Trade Organization (WTO), including the Philippines, have concluded a landmark trade deal that will see the elimination of tariffs on 201 information technology products valued at over $1.3 trillion per year. In a statement, the WTO said members have agreed on the timetable for implementing the trade pact last Wednesday at the WTO’s Tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi. “This is a very significant achievement,” said WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo. “Annual trade in these 201 products is valued at $1.3 trillion per year, and accounts for approximately 10 percent of total global trade. Eliminating tariffs on trade of this magnitude will have a huge impact. It will support lower prices—including in many other sectors that use IT products as inputs—it will create jobs and it will help to boost GDP growth around the world.” “This agreement is the first major tariff-cutting deal at the WTO since 1996—and it comes fast on the heels of the historic Bali Package. We now have two deals in two years which deliver real, economically significant results. I hope that this success will serve to inspire progress elsewhere in our work,” Azevêdo added. Negotiations were conducted among 53 WTO members, but all 162 WTO members are expected to benefit from the expanded Information Technology Agreement (ITA) as they will enjoy duty-free market access to the markets of the members eliminating tariffs on these products. The list of 201 Read More …

Sweat success: Coming from a family of fitness enthusiasts with parents Anthony and Maricel Laxa Pangilinan, fitness buff Ella Pangilinan recently launched a line of activewear designed to hide your flaws. Find the collection Ella X The Shape Shop on Instagram via @the.shape.shop and follow @ellapangilinanx for updates. DEAR RISSA, I’ve made a promise to myself to become  healthier and fitter so I’ve started exercising.  I want to buy clothes for working out. The imported brands are too expensive. Can you recommend where I can buy nice leggings and sports bras?            CHINA Hooray to commiting to working out! That’s a great resolution and it’s good you’re starting as early as now. It’s important to invest in the right workout clothes. Good design and quality will allow you to move well while giving the chest the support a woman needs. To me, it’s equally vital that the designs or colors excite me because fashionable workout gear is a good motivator.  I recently discovered that Ella Pangilinan started her own line of workout wear. Hailing from a family of fitness enthusiasts with parents Anthony and Maricel Laxa Pangilinan, Ella is a fitness buff herself.  Frustrated she couldn’t find nice workout clothes and that the imported ones were too expensive, she designed her own line. You can find it on Instagram via @the.shape.shop and follow @ellapangilinanx for updates. Lifestyle Feature ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: I’m not a fan of loud colors so what drew me to her designs was how she Read More …

Inquirer Mindanao By: Julie Alipala, December 15th, 2015 08:06 AM ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Soldiers found a headless body in Parang, Sulu, late Monday evening, a military official said Tuesday. Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command based here, said that the military believed the headless cadaver belonged to Malaysian Bernard Then Ted Fen. He said soldiers from the 501st Infantry Brigade were scouring Sitio Lungon-lungon in Barangay Lanao Dakula when they found the body, which was in an advanced state of decomposition, around 11 p.m. Monday. “(The) alleged decapitated body of Malaysian Chinese Bernard Then Ted Fen is recovered at Sitio Lungon-lungon in Barangay Lanao Dakula, Parang municipality,” Tan said. “(It) will be subjected to DNA testing to determine if it matches the head recovered last month,” he added, referring to the severed head found on Nov. 17. The head, which was found inside a sack labeled with the name of the Malaysian kidnap victim, was recovered in Barangay Taran in Indanan town. However, the result of the DNA testing on the head had not been released yet. Then was abducted, together with restaurant owner Thien Nyuk Fun, from Sandakan on May 14. Thien was subsequently released after paying ransom but the group led by Abu Sayyaf leaders Alhabsy Misaya and Idang Susukan had demanded P30 million for Then’s freedom. The Malaysian media reported in August that Then had told his wife, Chan Wai See, that the Abu Sayyaf had planned to kill him if the Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – For the Philippines to become the next Asian miracle, the World Bank challenges the local business community to embrace integrity in their operations and eradicate corrupt practices. Speaking at the Integrity Summit 2015, World Bank country manager Motoo Konishi said the country is currently on track to becoming the next Asian miracle as declared last year by World Bank president Jim Yong Kim. “The Philippines has done really well and will continue doing well with the right policies. I really hope that now, businesses take the role in making sure that corrupt practices do not come back. We see a new Philippines to come and lead the next Asian miracle,” Konishi said. Konishi, however, warned the country that advancing to the next stage of development is no easy task, saying it takes both public and private sector cooperation to do so. “Everybody has to be pulling in the same direction in order for you to go to the next stage and this political fighting cannot be. Development is a very, very serious business. I really hope that the business community really enhances their services to project a new image in the economy and grow much faster than other countries in Asia,” he said. By focusing on the important role of integrity in the society, the Philippines has completely transformed its image positively to the rest of the world, Konishi said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The United Kingdom, in particular, is one of Read More …

Lyca Gairanod (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — After fulfilling her dream of performing with Sarah Geronimo, her favorite local singer, Lyca Gairanod said she also hopes to do a duet with her favorite international stars one day. Gairanod admitted that she is a huge fan of Ariana Grande, Jessie J and the boy band Maroon 5. “Gusto ko talaga sila maka-duet. Gusto ko rin kasi yung mga kanta nila. At saka yung One Direction. Sa local, marami kasi akong hindi pa nakakasama. Nakasama ko na yung favorite ko si Sarah Geronimo. Sobrang saya ko na yung wish ko na natupad kaya sobrang happy ako,” she said. According to the young singer, her life changed since she won the first season of “The Voice Kids,” and she has her supporters to thank for her success. “Sobra-sobra akong nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng nagmamahal sa akin. Thank you talaga sa suporta niyo. Sana kahit saan man po ako makarating kayo pa rin yung susuporta sa akin at kahit saan man ako mapunta, patuloy niyo sana yung pagsuporta sa akin. Sobrang proud ako sa inyo kasi hanggang dulo po, hanggang pataas na po kayo pa rin yung nagmamahal sa akin,” she said. When asked if she still gets nervous every time she performs, Gairanod said: “Parang hindi na ako kinakabahan masyado pero hindi naman natatanggal sa tao yung kaba.” Meanwhile, Gairanod shared that she recently turned 11 and she is plans to do “more grown-up things.” “Parang hindi na bagay sa akin yung maglaro. Read More …